The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-05

I UIIIy
! Of the Cumberlands stretching for a hundred
leagues on either hand mighty panorama oil
majestic distances.
! A young man stands talking to her in earnest
! tones. HIS saddled horse crops the thick grass
/ pear by. This is the winter range coun try,
| where the grass lies green beneath the snow,
and to which the cattle from the lower valleys
are driven for their summer fatteninc.
Nancy ne says, sadly. ''alr ye a Coln ter
let me leave yer without word Of encourage
mentY
What kin / say, Huse2" she asks anxiously.
You've got high calm. You air goin to
Chatternoogy to study for TO preach; ioudi fer
git Nance Padgett after a while, and-hlt IL be
the best for both on Us.
II can't never fergit yon. Nancy" he said
quickly. while attempting tostake her hand.
She gently repealed him. At that instant a
clear manly voice heard descending the
rugged slopes that round upward into the bare
peak of the Bald:
Some lows thar's nuthin's good es water,
And some likes wine and beer
But I'll take my horn with the herder's darter
In noonshine whisky clear"
"Thars Nick Borun.' exclaimed Nancy. with
heightened color, as her eyes undisguisedly
frightened.
BE you still 1own for Nick ter talk to you
NancvT asked Huse Woody, impatiently.
Aud if ! he, hit air my lookout, | reckon, .
she said, deianty Then her heart pitied this
faithful adorer, though she dared not encourage
him. But, Huse, I'm telIin ye the truth row.
like yeas a friend. ana l respects We. You're
s-preachin' and you re too good fer me; but hit
IS a keerin fer me-"
Il Jest know hit air Nick Borun Listen.
Nancy Nick il wild He raider endurin'
the war and he's moonshiner now. Hit air
said he air stayin' up hyur OH account of boss
stealin in Georgy. Don't throw yourself away,
Nancy, ef We never do marry after all.
Hush Yer they come" said Nancy. rising
and blushing with ilconcealed pleasure. las three
neu-two on foot. with kegs in sacks over their
shoulders, with the third fiery black horse
came NJ To the spring before the door
''Howdy, Nance" said he on horseback. dis
mounting. "Iou look pert and sassy es one
OF THESE yer little mountain boomers. Huse
glad ter We. | want We ter sample some
prime mountain dew. Nance. won't you git yer
savr and sarvent cup"
Nancy obey ed Huse followed her into the
cabin.
Il CANT stay hyur, Nancy; drink his vile
.hker. I'm a-coin' ter Chatternoogy next weak.
Ef ye ever need a true frierd, Nancy. speshually
eff yer in trouble. jest Tnsmber Huse Woody
He wrung her hand with sign and went out.
What, air We Off parsonN exclaimed Nick.
hardly concealing certain degree OF contempt
in his familiarity Better try some moonshlne
Tain't every day sech iiker is what We find round
the Big Bald gifts inter the church.
But Husa wrapped in his own heart misery,
hardly needed this rough oy-play of wit as he
rode off.
''Whars Pleas" inquired Nick. as Nancy came
out with tin cup into which one OF the men
poured the clear new corn whisky.
"Unc1e's over on tother side of the Wacheesy,
n lookin' up some yearlin's.
The men all took a drink. and Nancy swal-
companions swung their kegs and started on
down the mountain.
I'm overtake We, boys" cried Nick. They
knows wanted to do about a minutes coursin',
Nance And I'm a-goln' ter hev kiss to begin
with"
He shifted his action to his words in spite of
Nancy's struggle, whereat she SAID, with fam
ing checks:
EFF hit wasn't that l love ye. Nick. and We
know it. I'd never.speak to ye acin."
Tut! What's one kiss more nor less 'twixt
''Taint right hit Amt proper nuther.
Huse Woody wouldn't be taken of sech advan-
taces. eff he had the chance"
'sHark We Nance" said Nick in stern sus-
picion ..I,hoperye hewitt been a gyn of that
whinin' little make believe preacher a showi
EfBye hev-"
But heJuft. Tim afeard ye amt worth hit, but
you're the only I've RELY keered for sense
poor pap was killed"
Nick was about fold his arms but at the
mention of-her father -frown settled on his
You're alrays THROWN of yer pap up ter
me-" he said, with irrelevant petulance. WAS
he RELY powerful good ter We after all!'
''Oh, Nick, he was the best daddy ever pore
gal had Ies ffrays wanted the Lord ter grant
one bletsjntand that is ter let me git ter the
"What would We do eff yer should meet
up with that thar man. Nance" said he, folding
his arms and gazing at her steadily.
'Dol, Td-Td-Oh, Nick, / don't know what
I'd do. ceptin' ter hate him forever
"Oh, ye would. Well, Nance, 1 must be
goin'"
Then. without further parley, he swung him
self abruptly into the saddle This sudden
change OF manner puzzled and distressed her,
and she said:
whats yer hurry. Next Stay ter dinner.
Pleas ii be back after while"
He regarded her earnestly, noting the telltale
color struggling with the sweet smile that went
with her invitation. Then, bending from his
saddle, he drew her to him and, kissing her
twice, exclaimed;
"You air good gal. Nance. Don't We mind
my notionate ways. l hate ter leave yer. but
the boys air a-waitin. When weuns air
ried M a-goin' ter quit thlsh yer moonshinin'.
and be es stiddy es-es that thar young fool
preacher. Huse Woody
He rode off with wave of his hat and was
soon lost to view, leaving Nancy looking after
him, while her smile gradually melted into
pensive expression, AS though her thoughts con-
corning her lover were not unremote from sad
ness.
Several weeks after this meeting with Nick
Borun on the mount tain. Nancy returned to her
uncles house, far down at the foot of the big
Bald IN Wildcat cove. This had been her
home ever since her fathers death. After the
war her brother went to Texas, and had never
provided for his sister. Pleas had cheerfully
assumed the task from that day. when. riding
over to his brother Tips, he heard of the latters
murder. and found the trembling orphan moan
ing upon the bed in her desolateG home
She had developed with the lapse of years into
a tail, robust woman, with refined serious
face and disposition at once sensitive. generous
and proud. Truth and honesty were Ngrained
in every fibre of ner being, together with a
hatred of sham and falsehood, intensified, per-
haps, by the narrow isolatons of her lot and
understanding.
Nick Borun was a middle-aged man, yet his
stature, handsome bearded face,
1mperious ease of manner attracted her strongly
when they first met Her other admirers had
bowed before her placid indulgence of their sub
servlence. But Nicks reckless daring and a
quiet superiorty-by others felt, rather than
by iDnself-eradually aided in strength
ening in her infatuation for him, which
her judgment never fully approved of, yet which
her neart condonej. He had recently come into
the settleuent, and accounts of his past history
were vague and suppostitious- He became
shrewd and daring moonshiner, yet in his devo-
ton TO her he often avowed his intention
.'stiddy down into good husband" when they
were married.
Nancy was a professor" In ''protracted
meetins" she had formerly joined the Metho-
dists under the fervid exhortations of Huse
Woody. who. in leading Nancy to the pourners
bench, had received the carnal arrow thrust Of
love in his own bosom.
Huse had failed as a lover but being n man